Conveyer for grass-catchers for lawn-mowers.



F. E. HARRIS.

CONVEYER FUR GRASS UATGHERS FOR LAWN MOWERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30.1908.

Patenti-ad June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. E. HARRIS.

GONVEYER FOR GRASS CATGHERS POR LAWN MOWERS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 30, 1908.

@Henny cv 0. N. m m H s A w. m. c s. n E r E P n R u N E m CONVEYER FOR GRASS-CATCHER Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed July 30, 1908. Serial No. 146,041

To all 107mm 'it 'may concern.'

V3e it known that I, linnn E. l'lixnnis, a citizen ot the United States, residing; at ldi son, in the county ot ltlorrow and State olt Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Conveyors for Grassatchers tor lniwnilowers, ol which the following is a specilicaion, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to conveyors for grass catchers lor lawn mowers.

The object elE the invention te provide a convcyer, adapted to receive the grass from the mower and convey the same to the rear portion ot the grass catcher which will be ol such a construction that it can be readily attached to and detached from the lawn mower and grass catcher; which will be adjustable both laterally and longitudinally to accommodate the same to mowers and grass catchers et various sizes; which will be trictionally operated troni the ground roller ol" the mower without the inte position et additional mechanism; which will be provided wit h guards to prevent the escape ot the grass over the sides thereof; and which will be et a simple construction such as to enable a strong, easily operated device to be manufactured al a low cost.

vWith these objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features ol construction and in certain parts and combinations hereinafter to be described, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lawn mower and a grass catcher equipped with the conveyor, Z is a top plan view of the conveyor', showing,r the conveyor fabric and one ot the rollers partially broken away; E is a side elevation ot the conveyer; rig. l Vis a fractional detail View of one ot the side members ol the trame; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view ot the transverse member ol' the trame; and G :is a detail view of the clamp, showing the same provided with an adjustable pivot pin.

ln these drawings, l have illustrated the preferred form of my inventioi'i and have shown the same as applied to a lawn mower 1, ot ordinary construction having the usual ground roller 2 and handle 3. A `grass catcher t, also oit ordinary construction, is secured to the lawn mower in the usual manner. The conveyor comprises an endless belt supported in or near the `erass catcher in such a. manner that the saine will be frictionally engaged by the ground roller 2 and actuated to cause the belt to move in such a direction as to carry the grass, which l'alls upon the saine, upwardly and rearwardly and deposit the same .near the rear o' thc grass catcher. rlhis eonycye preferably comprises a 'ranie indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 5 and comprising side members 6 connected one to the other by means ol a transverse member 7 which is preferablysecured at its opposite ends to the side members 6 at points between the opposite ends thereof. .ln order that this l'rame may be adjusted to accommodate the saine to machines of dil'erent widths this transverse member 7 is prel'crably termed in two pieces, one ol' which is 'provided with a slot 8, while the other has an aperture 9 adapted to receive a bolt I l) which extends through the aperture and the slot S and 'provided at its opposite end with a thumb nut 1]., thus enabling' the transverse or conncctingmcmber 7 to be longthencd orshortened to vary the width ol' the trame. Suitable rollers 12 and 13 are mounted in the side members (i oll the traine near the opposite ends thercol. These rollers are also preferably extensible to cnable the same to bc lengthened and shortened when the width ol thc traine varied, and, to this end, the rollers are preferably termed in two parts, one ol which is provided with a sleeve 14 ol an exterior dia-meter substantially equal to the exterior diameter ol the roller, the other part ol' the roller being provided with a reduced portion 15 adapted to 'lit within the sleeve 14 and to be secured therein in its adjusted position by means ol a screw 16, or other suitable devisY An cndlcss belt, preferably comprising a strip ol' l'abric 17, extends about the rollers 12 and 13 and forms the conveyor proper whichreceives the grass from the mower and conveys the same to the rear ol the `grass catcher. The conveyor is also preferably ,made extensible longitudinally in order that the same may be adjusted to accommodate it to `grass catchers of dill'erent lengths, and, to this end, the side members (i ot the l'rame arc preferably lornied in two pieces, the main portion thereof haring` its upper and lower edges ben t outwardly and downwardly and upwardly, respectively, to form a guideway 1S, within which is mounted a slidable portion 19, in which are formed bearing apertures 20 adapted to receive the pintie 21 of the roller 12. Suitable stops are provided for controlling the inovement of the slid-able member 19 in the guideway 1S, and these stops pre ylably comprise a series of teeth 22 termed in one edge of the slidable member and spring dog or pawl 23 carried by the main portion of the side member and adapted to engage said teeth, these teeth preferably having their rearward sides beveled so that the spring pawl will slide over the same when the member 1Q is moved outwardly and having their trontiaces straight and adapted to engage the pawl 23 to resist the inward movement of the slidable member. The roller 13, 'which is mounted in the lower portions ol the side members 6 of the lrame 5, is preferably adjustable longitudinally ol that trame for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. To this end, the side members 6 are preferably provided near their inner ends with longitudinal slots 24 adapted to receive the pintles 25 of the roller 13. il plate 26 is slidably mounted in tl e guideway 18 oi each side member 6 near the slot 2e and is adjustably mounted therein by means of a bolt 27 having a thumb nut This plate is provided in its inner end with a bearing recess 29 adapted to receive the pintle 25 ot' the roller 13. ily adjusting the plates 26 toward and away from the lower ends of the slots 24 in the side members 6, the bearing recesses 29 against weich the pintles ol' the roller engage may be moved toward or away from the inner end of the frame.

lhe trame 5 is supported within or near the grass catcher a in such a manner as to cause the lower roller 13 carried by the l'rame to engage, through the medium oi' the convcyer fabric 17, the ground roller 2 of the lawn mower, the lrictional relation. of the two rollers being such as to cause the roller 13 oi the conveyor to be actuated i'roni the ground roller. l pre'l'er to support the frame ol' the conveyor in the manner herein illustrated7 where l have shown a pair oi clamps, each comprising two dislis 30 connected one to the other by means oi' a bolt 31 and a thumb nut 32, adapted to be secured to any convenient portions oi' the lawn mower. @ne ol' the dis1 s or" each clamp is provided with an outwardly extending pin 33 which is adapted to engage an aperture 3d formed in that portion of the adjacent side member 6 which entends inwardlyT beyond the roller 13. Thus, tlie frame is pivotally secured to the lawn mower at a fixed point, this point being such that the roller 13 will rest upon and be supported by the ground roller 2 of the lawn mower, thus supporting the Vl'raine of the convey/er in the desired position relatively to the catcher. rihe position oi' the 'rame may be varied and the inner end raised or lowered by moving the roller 13 longitudinally oli thc l'rame, as above described, thus causing the roller to engage the ground roller 2'o'l" the lawn mower at different points oi its circumference and causing the outer end ol' the V[rame to be raised or lowered.

ln Fig. 6 el' the drawings l have shown the clamp as provideo with an adjustable pivot pin 36 which may be used where it is necessary to secure the clamp to tne lawn mower at a point removed Vfrom the inner end el' the trame members 6. rlhis adjustable pivot pin 36 is preferably mounted on a slotted bar 37, which slot extends about the bolt 31 and the pin 33 carried by one olI he disks 30 and is adjustable relatively thereto, thus enabling the pivotal support Al'or the frame to be moved inwart ly or outwa dly and enabling the clamps carrying said supports to be secured at difierent points on the l'rame oi' the mower.

llhen the conveyer is used with certain types oll grass catchers there is a tendency for the grass to i'all or to be blown ofl' oi the sides ol the conveyer, and, to overcome this tendency, l have provided the conveyer, at each side thereof, with guards extending above the suriaee ci' the conveyor Melt. 'llc this end, l have provided cach ol the side members 6 with suitable standards 3@ and 3Q extending at substantially right angles thereto. strip olI fabric or other suitable material el() is secured at its opposite ends to the standards 38 and 39. ln order that this guard may be shortened or lengthened to accommodate it to the longitudinal adjustment ol' the frame 5 l provide the strip 40 of a length equal to, or greater than, the extreme length oi' the frame, and, ilI the frame is shortened l roll the strip about the standard 39 at the outer end ot' the i'rame. The forward standard 33 is preferably supported on a bolt 42 mounted in the slot 24 near the inner end ol' the side member 6 of the frame and may be adjusted longitudinally of that slot to tale up any sla-cli that remains in the fabric of the guard after 'the surplus has been rolled on the rear standard 39. il. metal shield 41 extends inwardly from the inner side of each standard 38.

The operation oi the device will be readily apparent from the foregoing description and it will be seen that with the d evi-oe in position within the grass catcher and the roller 13 in engagement with the roller 2, through the medium of the conveyor fabric 17, the forward movement oi the lawn mower will cause the roller 13 to be rotated in such a direction as to move the upper surface oi' the endless belt or conveyor ltabric toward the rear or' the grass catcher, thus carrying the grass, .vhich is cast upon the same by the mower, rearwardly and discharging tle same over the rear end of the conveyor into the o eeteher. hon it is eesired to gein oser-,ss to the interior el the i entrlier to empty the seine, or for :my other purpose, the oonvryor frame may l; so moved )ont its pivotel Cento to turn the t :n 'i son e rorwerdly, thus moving the sanne :rwoy from the nass eetoher ond )erndting the ozrtehe to he tire l enmtied or to he removed l'rorn lziwn mower. .llt will also he oppnrenti thm-t1 l liv-ve provided a d .yiee ol" ths ehoroete r which is readily ettoehshle to and det;` i' hle l'roni lawn mowers ond gross Catchers ol various types, the eonveyer heine' adjustrthle hebh laterally ond longitnilinmllvY to eeeonnnodst'e the seine lo the voi-yn thereol'. i'urther, it will ne seen that t it the derery simple eonstruelion and is e' ,l constructed in n. strong,

:rt s very lor.' Cost.

vice is oll it eopnhle of durable manner l wish it to Yoe understood that l do not desire to Xoe limited to the dots-.ils of construetion shown and deserilzed, for obvious modientions will oe to it oerson skilled in the irrt. For instance, it will he obvious that, while l have shown ymid described the Conveyor Comprising on endless holt, other conveyor mechanism could be siis'tituted for snoh s holt und the term conveyor holt, :is employed in the spoeiuention rnd Claims, is used in fr brood sense to cover mty suoli conveyor ,meehonisnr Having thus lully desorilwd my in'vention, whot l es new and desire to seeure hy Letters i nt,

1. ln o deif'ieo ol' the elnn'eetor deseribed, the ioinhii i with o. lswn mower e 1nprising n lrmne :Ln-:l ground wi'ieels carried and e.. gross eziteher Connected to siiir'l lawn mower, ol o Conveyor supported neanthe eomhinntioin with sind gross '.:iteher :ind comprising' o. lrznne, o.. roller mounted in seid freine nein' seid irstm-oiftioned roller :nid ndripted to he l'rietion- :ally (mounted therehy, ond :i conveyer holt extending about sziid lnstsinenti(ned roller.

3. in :i 'eviee ol the elmrziotor described, 'the combination, with :i lown mower oompi is-ling' n. tremo :nid `e'round wheels carried tiel-elly, o. ground roller mounted on solid l' eme, :nid :L grass erzieher ronneeted to seid lown mower, ol o renvoyer supported nezn :oid entrher n. nl Comprising :1. l'rnme, n, roller niointed in smid l'rznne :nid supported in l' 'ietioi :al engorgement with the lirstsmentioied roller, :md :t conveyor holt. extending' z'llfont the lost-mentioned roller.

4. ln o. devire ol'v the ehinorter described, n. hrwn mower, :i roller Carried thorehy, :md o, grfzss virtueller connerted to seid lztwn mower, ol :r conveyor comprising e. lrnme piyotr-lly connected to seid lawn mower, n roller carried hy sriid freine dnd adopted to lis supported on the Ylrst-mentioned roller, sind n. conveyor holt extending; shout'y the lzistzsmeu oned roller.

5. ln :i device ol' the ohegeeter desrrihed, the eoinlinntion, Awith :t lawn mor-5er, o roller Cnrried therelf, :nid o gross eodrher oonnei'ted to seid lfrwn mower, ol' o. conveyor Com'frisingr fr tranne pivotnllj. Connected to seid lown mower, :zroller ezi-rried hjf sfrid llrone :ind :idoiftod to he suiniorted on the lust-'mentioned roller, moons l'or adjusting' sind roller longitudinsllj,r ot sind treme, :md n. conveyor holt extending' about the last1- mentioned roller.

6. ln o device oll the ohorztcter described, the Combination, with n. lawn mower, :t roller carried therehy, :ind o lgross entol'ier connected to sold lawn mower, ol' o. een- Veyer eonilorising' :t laterally extensible tron e adopted to he pivotlzilly Connected to seid lawn mower, extensible rollers Carried h v seid l'rznne, l'rietionel meznis lfor netuziting' one oll said rollers, find :1. conveyor holt extending about the rollers ezn'ried hj-f sind frame.

7. ln n device ol' the ohm'oeter deserihod, the emnhinotion, with :t lm carried thorohy, :ind :1v gross (':itehor :on- .neeted to seid lawn mower, ot' e. eonveyor :omprisi'f1 :t longitudinally eX ensihle l'rmne pivotolly connected to seid lewn mower, rollers enrried hy seid, l'r( me, l'riet'ionnl ineens .l'or oet'uzrtingr one ol' oid rollers, and e conve-.yer lt-elt extending' About the rollers Carried hy seid l'rinne.

S. ln e device olI the ehzn'eeter described, tho oomhinzttion, with :t lnwn mmver, :i roller carried thereby, l.rd :t egress catcher oonnec-tied to nid limi mower, ol' :t conveyor oonnfrising;` :i longitudiimllj.' :rnd laterally eX- tensihle freine, n ens l'or nivot'elly connecting sold tranne to snid lof-:vn mower, rollers einriod hy sind `l'rznno :ind supported on the own mower, :t roller 4: eeeeee rst-iientioned roller, and e eonveffer 1oelt extending about toe rollers carried if seid freine.

9. ln device ol' the elioroeter described, the combination, with o lawn mower, e roller eorried thereby, ond eetelier eone neeted to seid lown mower, of o eonvejfer coing ising longitndinolli,T ond ldterollj.T er;- tensible l'rome, rollers iourneled in said frame, ineens 1oejond the innermost oi' seid rollers 'for pivotollf Connecting ssid freine to seid lon/n mou er, seid imei-most roller being in vriotionel eng gement Witli tlie rollereerried d seid lent mower, and o eonvejfer belt extending ooout tlie rollers esrried lof? seid freine.

l0. ln e device el the Clieroeter deserilied, t inetion, 'with o. lawn nioiif'er, s roller Carried thereby, and o gross eetelier eenneeted to seid lenfn moire, of conveyor comprising e frame pivotmly connected to said leu/'n mower, o roller eorried lo? said freine and odepted to 1|oe supported on tlie rstonentioned roller, ,que ds mounted on the opposite sides el' said une end extendine' longitudin lj,T thereof, and o conveyor loert extending out the roller oerried by said ironie.

l1. ln e device of tne character described, the Combination, Wi th o lawn mower, e, roller carried thereby, ond o gross eetelier een neeted to seid lawn mower, of a conveyor comprising s treme having side members, rollers journeled in said ironie, a Conveyor 'belt extending; eliout seid rollers, ezieli of said side members having' en aperture near tlie inner end tliereol', clamps adapted to be secured to o pert of said lovin mower, and lues eerried oy seid clamps and adopted to enge-,qe the apertures in seid side members.

l2. ln d eviee ol' tlie eliorseter described, tlie combination, with :i lawn mower, :t roller carried thereby, ond o gross eotelier eenneeted to seid lawn mower, of conveyor comprising e ironie having side members, rollers journoled in seid freine, o eonvejfer belt extending` eliout seid rollers, eoeli. ol' seid side members herring en aperture neer tlie inner end tliereo'l", Clamps adopted to be secured to e port of seid lawn mower, lugs edepted to enter tlie apertures in seid side members, ond ineens 'for securing said lugs to seid Clamps.

13. ln o device oi the eliereeter described, tlie combine-tion, with s lawn mower Comprising o treme end ground Wheels esrried thereby, o ground roller mounted on' seid frame sind s gross eotelier eonneeted. to seid lawn mower, of Conveyor end i'rietionel driving` ineens connected Witli seid eonifejyer :nid in ope; dtire engagement with seid roller.

ln testimony Wneeol', l eilix my signsture in presence ol two witnesses.

ElviEltSll HARRS.

vWitnesses H. C. LYMAN, JAY erinnern. 

